THREE of the top 10 fines handed out last year by WorkSafe BC for workplace health and safety violations were to companies based on the North Shore.

That included the highest fine of more than $145,000 levied from Penfold's Roofing after inspectors noted workers repeatedly failing to wear fall protection while working on roofs at three different job sites last year.

According to WorkSafe's inspection report, two of Penfold's roofers at a Lawson Avenue site were working between 4.5 and six metres off the ground without proper safety gear. Inspectors had noted similar infractions during visits to Penfold's work sites on Capilano Road and Indian River Road earlier in the year.

Another local company slapped with a hefty fine was Davey Tree Expert Co., after one of its workers was seriously injured while falling a tree at Capilano University.

According to an inspector's report, "This firm failed on numerous occasions to adequately train, instruct and supervise its workers to fall trees safely." Last year, a worker was cutting down a tree at the university when part of the trunk split off and hit the worker, causing serious injuries, including loss of one eye.

WorkSafe handed Davey a $90,000 fine, which is currently under review.

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympics also made the top-10 list last year after being fined $75,000 when workers at Cypress Mountain, one of the Olympic venues, climbed on to platforms as high as 14.5 metres using vertical poles instead of a scaffold.

Inspectors also noted VANOC failed to coordinate the health and safety of workers who were employed by various contractors at the site.

Those big-ticket fines were among total penalties of more than $427,500 handed out to 22 North Shore companies by WorkSafe BC for not complying with regulations.

Most of the companies were in the construction business and the majority of incidents involved roofers not wearing proper fall protection.

Other safety problems cited in reports included two workers for Dan-Ex Contracting Ltd. working in a 2.5-metre deep excavation where the sides weren't adequately sloped or supported.

In another cases, a concrete pumper truck operated by Sidhu Concrete Pumping Ltd. was set up with its stabilizing outrigger on uneven ground.

A total of 256 fines adding to more than $3 million were given to B.C. companies last year.